Ubisoft abolishing DRM for PC Gamers. Kudos!

At last the woes of the gamers have been heard by Ubisoft, who has finally decided to do away with their infamous DRM once and for all. And yes, Assassins Creed 3 and Splinter Cell: Blacklist will be DRM free too.

But will this move turn around it's fortunes with PC gamers...

DRM - Digital Rights Management is a collection of technologies used by game publishers and developers to limit redistribution of products after sale.

These can include a limit on the number of systems a game can be installed on by requiring authentication with an online server.

This can be a one time check at start up or installation but in recent years this has often required always on internet. Meaning that the game will continually connect to an authentication server in order for the gamer to play their game.

A few problems and questions that this causes - What if you want to install your game on a number of your own PCs. What if you want to play the game at a friends house, is it not still your game? What if you dont have an interenet connection that is reliable?

This revelations comes from Ubisoft's Worldwide Director for online games, Stephanie Perotti, in an interview with RockPaperShotgun. He stressed how Ubisoft has paid heed to the gamers and acted accordingly. He said,

"We have listened to feedback, and since June last year our policy for all of PC games is that we only require a one-time online activation when you first install the game. From then you are free to play the game offline."

Yes, it's back to one-time online installation and play without the absurd inclusion of the always-on internet. That's the right move when considering not everyone has internet connection in their respective homes and can activate the game someplace else and then play them in their personal computer, carefree. 

Yet she didn't seem pretty disturbed by the inclusion of it. Says DRM is industry standard process and wasn't a wrong step. Well, 'ask the gamers' is all we can say, or they already have... well, GD is just happy to report that they have ditched the idea on the whole.

Yet, one can only think as to why they reacted so late. DRM was introduced in Ubisoft's games years ago, and there has been continued outcry since then.

How does PC gaming figure in Ubisofts financial planning? In 2011's earnings call, they reported that PC games made up only 7% of their total in the last fiscal year. Was this the prime reason for the benevolent move? Stephanie doesn't think so,

"What we've been announcing at Gamescom for instance, is a large portfolio of varied online PC games, games that are exclusively designed for the PC. I would just say that we listened to feedback, we adapt, we will continue to listen and adapt, and hopefully we will continue to prove to the PC gaming community that we listen."

So gamers, give yourselves a pat on the back. You made it happen!

What do you think of this? Wait we already know that. Will you now give Ubsioft's game a chance, if you weren't because of the DRM? Do you think the PC gamers who distanced themselves from their games will make a comeback? Do let us know in your comments below, and don't worry we have no limitations!

Let me leave you with a link to our very own Squee's review of the awesome game Assassins Creed 2 to see how we have dealt with it in the past.